Editing Spire of Dublin

{{Short description|Monument in Dublin, Ireland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox building
| name             = Spire of Dublin <br />''Monument of Light''
| image            = E4324-Spire-of-Dublin.jpg
| caption          = Seen from [[O'Connell Street]]
| start_date       = 2002
| completion_date  = {{Start date and age|2003|1|21|df=y|br=y|p=y}}<ref>{{cite web |date=23 January 2021 |title=On This Day: The Spire is completed in Dublin in 2003 |url=https://www.irishcentral.com/culture/the-spire-dublin#:~:text=was%20completed%20on%20January%2021%2C%202003 |website=Irish Central |access-date=8 February 2024}}</ref>
| building_type    = Monument, sculpture
| location         = [[Dublin]], Ireland
| antenna_spire    = {{convert|120|m|ft|1|abbr=on}}
| coordinates      = {{coord|53|20|59|N|6|15|37|W|region:IE_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| architect        = [[Ian Ritchie (architect)|Ian Ritchie]] Architects
| client           = [[Dublin City Council]]
| cost             = €4,600,000<ref>{{cite web |last1=Burns |first1=Sarah |title=Dublin’s Spire at 20: The inside story of the city’s most divisive landmark |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/dublin/2023/01/21/the-spire-at-20-it-doesnt-matter-if-you-like-it-or-not-its-an-incredibly-impressive-piece/ |website=The Irish Times |access-date=8 February 2024}}</ref>
| material         = Stainless steel
| engineer         = [[Arup Group|Arup]]
}}
The '''Spire of Dublin''', alternatively titled the '''Millennium Spire''' or the '''''Monument of Light'''''<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/national-news/spire-cleaners-get-prime-view-of-city-691362.html|title=Spire cleaners get prime view of city|work=[[Irish Independent]]|access-date=5 June 2007|date=5 June 2007}}</ref> ({{langx|ga|An Túr Solais}}),<ref>{{cite book|title=The Spire, Túr Solais|year=2004|publisher=Ian Ritchie Architects |location=London |isbn=1904662013}}</ref> is a large, stainless steel, pin-like [[monument]] {{convert|120|m|ft}} in height,<ref name="Spire of Dublin"/> located on the site of the former [[Nelson's Pillar]] (and prior to that a statue of [[William Blakeney, 1st Baron Blakeney|William Blakeney]]) on [[O'Connell Street]], the main thoroughfare of [[Dublin]], [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]].

==History==
[[File:Nelsons Pillar Dublin.jpg|thumb|left|[[Nelson's Pillar]] stood on the site of the Spire until it was destroyed by a bomb in 1966.]]
Following the bombing of [[Nelson's Pillar]] by former [[Irish Republican Army (1922–69)|IRA]] members in 1966, and subsequent controlled demolition six days later of what was left,<ref name=rtearchivec>{{cite web |url=https://www.rte.ie/archives/2013/0308/375076-demolition-of-nelsons-pillar/|work=RTÉ Archives |title=Nelson Pillar Demolished - 1966|publisher=RTÉ |access-date=2022-10-06 |date=1966-03-14 }}</ref> the site remained vacant for years as no decision could be reached on a suitable replacement.<ref name=rtearchivea>{{cite web |url=https://www.rte.ie/archives/2017/0331/864114-a-spire-of-light-for-dublin/|work=RTÉ Archives |title=New Monument For O’Connell Street - 2002|publisher=RTÉ |access-date=2022-10-06 |date=2002-04-08 }}</ref> Eventually, the ''[[Anna Livia (monument)|Anna Livia]]'' monument was installed on the site to celebrate the [[Dublin Millennium|1988 Dublin Millennium celebrations]].

In 1998, as part of a planned multi-million euro re-development of O'Connell Street (as well as a memorial to the upcoming [[Millennium celebrations|millennium]] and the aspirations of Ireland in the midst of its [[Celtic Tiger]] economic boom), a competition was launched to find a replacement for Nelson's Pillar.<ref name=rtearchivea/> O'Connell Street had been in decline for a number of years due to the proliferation of fast-food restaurants, the opening of bargain shops using cheap plastic shop fronts, and proliferation of derelict sites along both sides of the road. The re-development plan, which was aimed for completion by 2004, hoped to move the street "away from the image of fast-food restaurants, to (that of) a 'family' place to go".<ref name=rtearchivea/> As part of the project to improve the overall streetscape, a new granite plaza was promised<ref name=rtearchiveb/> and the number of trees in the central reservation, which had overgrown and obscured views and monuments, was reduced dramatically. This was controversial, as the trees had been growing for a century.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.emigrant.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12373&Itemid=27|title=Temporary reprieve for O'Connell Street trees |work=The Irish Emigrant|date=17 November 2002}}</ref> Statues were cleaned and in some cases relocated. Shop owners were required to replace plastic signage and frontage with more attractive designs. Traffic was re-directed where possible away from the street and the number of traffic lanes was reduced to make it more appealing to pedestrians. The centrepiece of this regeneration was to be the replacement monument for Nelson's Pillar.

[[File:The Spire-doyler79.jpg|left|upright|thumb|The Spire looking towards the Liffey]]
The Spire, or ''Spire of Light'', was chosen from a large number of submissions in an international competition by a committee chaired by the [[Lord Mayor of Dublin]], [[Joe Doyle (politician)|Joe Doyle]]. Following an appeal by an objector,<ref name=rtearchiveb/> the plans were taken to the [[High Court (Ireland)|High Court]], meaning that the monument was not ready for the Millennium celebrations in the year 2000.<ref name=rtearchivea/> On 28 December 2000, after an [[Environmental impact assessment|Environmental Impact Study (EIS)]] had been carried out, Environment Minister [[Noel Dempsey]] announced that construction of the Monument of Light, or ''The Spike'', had been approved and that construction of the monument would take nineteen months to complete.<ref name=rtearchiveb>{{cite web |url=https://www.rte.ie/archives/2015/1221/755422-monument-of-light/|work=RTÉ Archives |title=Plans For The Spire - 2000|publisher=RTÉ |access-date=2022-10-06 |date=2000-12-28 }}</ref> The announcement constituted a defeat for [[An Taisce]], Ireland's non-governmental organisation active in the areas of the environment and built heritage, which had called for the spire's height to be reduced.<ref name=rtearchiveb/> Dempsey noted that [[Dublin Corporation]] had previously failed to complete an EIS in its haste to complete the monument quickly.<ref name=rtearchiveb/>

The spire was designed by [[Ian Ritchie (architect)|Ian Ritchie]] of [[Ian Ritchie Architects]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.herald.ie/national-news/city-news/spike-costs-a-million-to-keep-clean-1583120.html|title=Spike costs a million to keep clean|work=Evening Herald|date=22 December 2008}}</ref> who sought an "Elegant and dynamic simplicity bridging art and technology". The contract was awarded to SIAC-Radley JV and it was manufactured by Radley Engineering of [[Dungarvan]], [[County Waterford]], and erected by SIAC Construction Ltd & GDW Engineering Ltd. The ''Anna Livia'' monument was eventually moved away to make room for the Spire in 2001.

In December 2015, to coincide with the Irish premier of ''[[Star Wars: The Force Awakens]]'', a large temporary [[Lightsaber]] hilt was installed at the base of the Spire to light the Spire blue at night.<ref>{{cite web |last1=McLysaght |first1=Emer |title=Dublin's Spire has been turned into a giant lightsaber for Star Wars |url=https://www.dailyedge.ie/dublin-spire-lightsabre-2503136-Dec2015/ |website=The Daily Edge |access-date=8 February 2024}}</ref>

In May 2024, ''[[New York–Dublin Portal|The Portal]]'' was opened. It created a visual bridge connecting Dublin and New York with a live videostream of The Spire shown to New Yorkers, while the portal in New York was broadcast from the [[Flatiron Building]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Snider|first1=Mike|title=Mystical Portals now connect New York and Dublin, part of a bridge 'to a united planet'|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2024/05/09/portal-dublin-new-york/73633531007/|access-date=14 May 2024|work=[[USA Today]]|date=9 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240513200942/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2024/05/09/portal-dublin-new-york/73633531007/|archive-date=13 May 2024}}</ref>

==Construction==
The first section was installed on 18 December 2002.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irish-architecture.com/buildings_ireland/dublin/northcity/oconnell_street/spire_competition/introduction.html|title=The Dublin Spire Competition Winning Announcement|publisher=Archiseek.com|access-date=29 September 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20080705180117/http://www.irish-architecture.com/buildings_ireland/dublin/northcity/oconnell_street/spire_competition/introduction.html|archive-date=5 July 2008}}</ref> Construction of the sculpture was delayed because of difficulty in obtaining planning permission and environmental regulations.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/home/judge-spikes-ritchies-dublin-millennium-spire/772731.article|title=Judge spikes Ritchie's Dublin Millennium Spire|work=The Architects' Journal|date=8 July 1999|access-date=18 April 2018}}</ref> The Spire consists of eight hollow stainless steel cone sections, the longest being {{convert|20|m|ft|abbr=on}}, which were installed on 21 January 2003.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Blaney |first1=Amy |title=Twenty things to know about the Spire as it turns 20 years old |url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/dublin/dublin-news/twenty-things-to-know-about-the-spire-as-it-turns-20-years-old/42303278.html#:~:text=The%20Spire%20is%20made%20up%20of%20eight%20stainless%20steel%20cones%20stacked%20on%20top%20of%20one%20another%20to%20create%20a%20seamless%20structure.%20The%20longest%20section%20is%2020%20metres%20in%20length.%20The%20base%20is%203%20metres%20in%20diameter%20and%20narrows%20to%2015cm%20at%20the%20top. |website=Irish Independent |access-date=8 February 2024}}</ref> It is an elongated cone of diameter {{convert|3|m|ft|abbr=on}} at the base, narrowing to {{convert|15|cm|in|abbr=on}} at the top. The total weight of the eight sections amounts to 133.15 tonnes.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=Deavy |first=Cormac P. |last2=Allsop |first2=Andrew |last3=Jones |first3=Keith |date=16 August 2005 |title=The Spire of Dublin |url=https://www.ritchie.studio/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/IStructE-Paper.pdf |journal=The Structural Engineer |pages=20}}</ref> It features two [[tuned mass damper]]s inside the fifth section from the bottom,<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.publicart.ie/fileadmin/user_upload/PDF_Folder/The_Spire_of_Dublin_-_Science_and_Technology_in_Action.pdf|title=The Spire of Dublin|work=Public Art|access-date=18 April 2018}}</ref> designed by engineers Arup, to counteract sway. The steel underwent [[shot peening]] to alter the quality of light reflected from it.

The pattern around the base of the Spire is based on a [[core sample]] of rock formation taken from the ground where the spire stands and the DNA double helix.<ref name="Spire of Dublin">{{cite web|url=http://www.ianritchiearchitects.co.uk/projects/dublin/|title=Spire of Dublin|publisher=Ian Ritchie Architects|access-date=1 November 2016}}</ref> The pattern was applied by [[Abrasive blasting#Bead blasting|bead blasting]] the steel through rubber stencil masks whose patterns were created by [[Water jet cutter|water jet cutting]] based on core sample drawings supplied by the contractor.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://aqua-design.ie/CaseStudies/The%20Spire%20Waterjet.pdf|title=Case Study: The Spire WaterJet Cutting|publisher=Aqua Design|access-date=25 November 2012}}</ref> The design around the {{convert|10|m|ft|abbr=on}} lower part of the Spire was created by the architects making a 3D pattern model combining the core sample and double helix and then digitally translated to a 2D image drawing supplied to the contractor and used by specialists for cutting the masking material.<ref name="Spire of Dublin"/>

At dusk, the base of the monument is lit and the top {{convert|10|m|ft|abbr=on}}<ref name="Spire of Dublin"/> is illuminated through 11,884 holes through which [[light-emitting diode]]s shine.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newsteelconstruction.com/wp/making-the-dublin-spire/|work=NewSteelConstruction.com|title=Making the Dublin Spire|date=1 May 2006|access-date=18 April 2018}}</ref>

==Reception==
Some opposition initially greeted the monument. Supporters compare it to other initially unpopular urban structures such as the [[Eiffel Tower]], while detractors complain that the Spire has little architectural or cultural connection to the city.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.european-architecture.info/EIR/D-EIR-010.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080907083610/http://www.european-architecture.info/EIR/D-EIR-010.htm|archive-date=7 September 2008|title=Spire of Dublin|publisher=European Architecture|access-date=9 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Mary|last=Kenny|author-link=Mary Kenny|url=https://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/the-problem-with-the-spire-is-the-problem-with-most-abstract-art-and-sculpture-there-is-no-accessible-story-29119119.html|title=The problem with the Spire|newspaper=[[Irish Independent]]|date=10 March 2013|access-date=10 February 2018}}</ref> Irish intellectual [[Desmond Fennell]] believed that the Spire symbolised Ireland's diminishing sense of nationhood, writing that 'on reflection [on the Spire], I recognised that it was at least an honest statement of the [[Republic of Ireland|Republic's]] state of mind after its prudent self-effacement during the [[The Troubles|Northern War]] and during the past-effacing enrichment of the [[Celtic Tiger]] boom. It stood for, represented, and said nothing."<ref>{{cite book|title=Ireland After the End of Western Civilisation|year=2009|publisher=Athol Books |location=Belfast |isbn=9780850341201}}</ref>

Complaints were also aired about the danger posed by the monument to low-flying aircraft, as well as the absence of a Christian message.<ref name = JD>{{Cite web|last=Drennan|first=John|date=1999-12-12|title=Millennium madness|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/millennium-madness-26262080.html|access-date=2022-10-06|website=[[The Irish Independent]]|language=en}}</ref> It has inspired a number of nicknames, as is common with public art in Dublin, including the stiletto in the ghetto, the pin in the bin,<ref>{{Cite book|last=Griffith|first=Lisa-Marie|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/893674562|title=Stones of Dublin : a history of Dublin in ten buildings|publisher=The Collins Press|year=2014|isbn=978-1-84889-871-4|location=Cork, Ireland|pages=203|oclc=893674562}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=O'Donoghue |first1=Jo |title=Brewer's Dictionary of Irish Phrase and Fable. |publisher=Chambers Harrap Publishers |location=Edinburgh |isbn=9780199916191}}</ref> the stiffy by the Liffey,<ref>{{cite web |title=Teardrop? Tulip? Top public art nicknames |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-37374538 |website=BBC News |access-date=25 October 2020 |date=16 September 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Lichfield |first1=John |title=John Lichfield: Our Man in Dublin |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/commentators/john-lichfield-our-man-in-dublin-5346805.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220524/https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/commentators/john-lichfield-our-man-in-dublin-5346805.html |archive-date=24 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=25 October 2020 |work=The Independent |date=25 July 2005 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Jans |first1=Lina |title=Dublin in the Rare Aul Times: A look at O'Connell Street |url=https://dublingazette.com/news/rare-dublin-89200/ |access-date=25 October 2020 |work=Dublin Gazette Newspapers - Dublin News, Sport and Lifestyle |date=22 October 2020}}</ref> the spire in the mire,<ref>{{cite news |title='Spire in the Mire' makes Dublin debut |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2003-01-22-0301220326-story.html |access-date=25 October 2020 |work=chicagotribune.com |date=22 January 2003}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Spire points to new face of Ireland |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/ourview/arid-10034588.html |access-date=25 October 2020 |work=Irish Examiner |date=16 January 2003 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2003-02-17|title=Shortlist of 500 in quest to name the Dublin spire|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/ireland/1422349/Shortlist-of-500-in-quest-to-name-the-Dublin-spire.html|access-date=2020-10-20|website=The Telegraph|language=en-GB}}</ref> or the spike.<ref>{{cite news |title=Street wise |url=https://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/street-wise-26050944.html |access-date=25 October 2020 |work=Irish Independent |date=9 April 2002 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Value for money? |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/value-for-money-1.1034032 |access-date=25 October 2020 |work=The Irish Times |date=4 August 2006 |language=en}}</ref>

==Award nominations==
The monument has been nominated for the following awards:
*2003 British Construction Industry International Award finalist
*2004 [[Royal Institute of British Architects|RIBA]] [[RIBA National Award|National Award]] & Stirling Prize shortlist
*2005 [[Ludwig Mies van der Rohe|Mies Van der Rohe]] Prize list

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:The Spire.jpg|View from the bottom of the construction
File:DublinSpireBaseArtworkDet.jpg|Detail of the base artwork
File:Spire maintenance.jpg|Maintenance work
</gallery>

==See also==
* ''[[Iglica]]''
* [[List of public art in Dublin]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|The Spire of Dublin}}
* [http://archiseek.com/2010/2003-the-dublin-spire-oconnell-street-dublin/ Construction Photographs]
* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/decsramble/sets/72157606261642184/ Gallery of Spire maintenance pictures]

[[Category:Buildings and structures celebrating the third millennium]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures completed in 2003]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Dublin (city)]]
[[Category:Monumental columns in the Republic of Ireland]]
[[Category:Stainless steel sculptures]]
[[Category:21st-century architecture in the Republic of Ireland]]
[[Category:2003 sculptures]]
[[Category:2003 establishments in Ireland]]